Caterpillar Honored at 2012 Freedom Award Ceremony

On September 20, 2012, Caterpillar employees, former employees and dealer representatives joined Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., recognizing this year's Freedom Award recipients. Caterpillar was one of only 15 companies to receive the Department of Defense's highest honor for ongoing support of Guard and Reserve employees.

"This award is a testament to the entire Caterpillar team," said Oberhelman. "The support we give our Guardsmen and Reservists is a reflection of our culture. I see teammates gladly taking on extra responsibilities when a co-worker is called to active military duty. Congratulations on this award, and keep up the great work!"

Caterpillar was nominated for the Freedom Award by a member of the Marine Corps Reserve who received outstanding organizational support when he was called to serve. According to Ryan Hubbard, president of the Armed Forces Support Network (AFSN), the Freedom Award represents a larger commitment to military and veteran employees.

"It means we welcome the experience of military service personnel," said Hubbard, who also attended the Freedom Award ceremony. "We want you to come to Caterpillar and be part of our team. If you choose to stay in the Reserves, we'll go above and beyond to help you and your family. You won't be forgotten while you're gone."

As president of AFSN, Hubbard plays an active role in recruiting and mentoring military and veteran employees. That process includes attending military job fairs across the United States. While some support programs are still in their infancy, he said he is pleased with the overall partnership with Caterpillar leaders, Human Resources and the Global Diversity & Inclusion Office. Next steps include working with other companies to compare best practices and explore new opportunities for support.

"The ball is definitely rolling," Hubbard noted. "It's great that we won the Freedom Award, but where do we go next? How can we improve?"

As a Freedom Award recipient, Caterpillar is now a lifetime member of the Freedom Award Society—an advocacy group created to address personal and professional issues facing veterans and members of the military.